Teamsters decline to endorse Trump or Harris
The 1.3-million-member labor union broke three decades of precedent by choosing not to endorse a candidate
What happened
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters broke three decades of precedent on Wednesday, announcing that the 1.3-million-member labor union would not endorse Kamala Harris or Donald Trump this election. Fourteen Teamster board members voted against endorsing, three wanted to endorse Harris and none favored backing Trump. But surveys the union released on Wednesday showed members backing Trump over Harris nearly two-to-one.
Who said what
Internal polling showed "no majority support" for Harris and "no universal support" among the membership for Trump, the Teamsters said in a statement. Neither Harris nor Trump made "serious commitments to our union to ensure the interests of working people are always put before Big Business," said Teamsters President Sean O'Brien in a statement.
The decision is a "blow" to Harris, The New York Times said. She has the "endorsement of the country's other powerful labor unions," but Teamsters backing "could have bolstered the Democrats' ground game in battleground states this fall." O'Brien's equivalence between the two candidates, after his private meeting with Trump and prime-time speaking spot at the Republican National Convention, infuriated some Teamster leaders and rank-and-file. Regional governing councils, Black Teamsters and locals in Nevada, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania broke with O'Brien and threw their support behind Harris.
The Biden-Harris administration is "widely viewed by historians as one of the most pro-union in modern U.S. history," while Trump as president "supported a labor agenda that severely restricted union power," The Washington Post said. But for many union workers, "issues such as gun control, abortion and border security override Trump's expressions of hostility to unions," The Associated Press said, citing Wayne State University labor expert Marick Master.
What next?
The opaque Teamster polls, criticized by some leaders as unsound, nevertheless "raises questions about whether other blue-collar unions" that endorsed Harris "harbor similar reservations about her within their ranks," said Politico.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.
-
What's behind Trump's last-minute merch push?
Today's Big Question With just weeks to go before the election, Donald Trump is spending the waning days of his campaign hawking a suite of new products, from silver coins to cryptocurrency
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kamala Harris' plan to raise taxes on corporations and the wealthy
the explainer Tweaks, rather than sweeping overhauls, characterize the Democratic nominee's proposals
By David Faris Published
-
The most notable October surprises
In the Spotlight Late breaking news in October has the power to rock presidential races
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What's behind Trump's last-minute merch push?
Today's Big Question With just weeks to go before the election, Donald Trump is spending the waning days of his campaign hawking a suite of new products, from silver coins to cryptocurrency
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kamala Harris' plan to raise taxes on corporations and the wealthy
the explainer Tweaks, rather than sweeping overhauls, characterize the Democratic nominee's proposals
By David Faris Published
-
The most notable October surprises
In the Spotlight Late breaking news in October has the power to rock presidential races
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Israel marks Oct. 7 attack, hits Lebanon, Gaza
Speed Read It has been one year since Hamas attacked Israel festival goers, sparking an escalating conflict in the Middle East
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Donald Trump is downplaying his position on abortion
The Explainer He says it's a state issue, but opponents have concerns
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
UK cedes Chagos Islands to Mauritius, minus US base
Speed Read Mauritius has long argued it was forced to give up the islands in 1965 in return for independence from Britain
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Liz Cheney campaigns with Harris in Wisconsin
Speed Read The pair does not agree on much politically, but they share an anti-Trump stance
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Kamala Harris' 'pragmatic' plan for the economy
The Explainer Tax credits for manufacturing, small businesses, affordable housing
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published